Ready, teddy, go at centre fundraiser

A SECOND World War flypast marked the high point for a teddy bears picnic held to raise money for good causes.

The Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight swooped low over Didcot Railway Centre on Sunday for a fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The picnic raised money for the charity’s Oxford branch, which offers ‘home away from home’ accommodation for 18 families of patients at Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Didcot mayor Scott Wilgrove launched the event.

He said: “The kids loved it because they were bringing their teddy bears and they all had a really good time.

“It was a really good day although I was a bit warm in my onesie.”

The railway centre used the event to launch a new Class 14 diesel engine that had been dubbed ‘the teddy bear’ by workers who built it in Swindon.

Centre volunteer commercial manager Ann Middleton, said: “We wanted to give visitors something completely different and thought a teddy bears’ picnic was a great way of doing it.”

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